Abstract: A high-sensitivity carbon monoxide sensor is shown and described. The sensor includes a sensing element having a catalyst dispersed over a metal oxide layer. The catalyst is capable of adsorbing carbon monoxide. The sensing element can also include a heater and a temperature sensor. A flow sensor is provided for sensing a flow rate of gas directed at the sensing element. The signal processing module is coupled to the flow sensor and the temperature sensor. A flow sensor sends signals indicative of the flow rate to the processing module while the temperature sensor sends signals indicative of the temperature of the sensing element to the processing module. After carbon monoxide has been adsorbed onto the catalyst and metal oxide layer for a fixed time period, the heater is activated to heat the sensing element above the light-off temperature or at least as high as the oxidation temperature of the adsorbed carbon monoxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flammable gas detection sensor that is a gas detection sensor which converts heat generated by the catalytic reaction between the catalyst component and a flammable gas to a voltage signal by a thermoelectric conversion effect and detects this signal as a detection signal, and is characterized by comprising as constituent elements thereof a catalyst component for initiating a catalytic reaction when in contact with a gas to be detected, and a film of thermoelectric conversion material which converts local temperature differences brought about by heat generated by the reaction to voltage signal; and also relates to a flammable gas concentration measurement method and a measurement apparatus thereof.

Abstract: A carbon monoxide sensor and method is shown and described. The sensor includes a sensing element that includes an adsorbent dispersed over a support material. The adsorbent is capable of exothermically adsorbing carbon monoxide. The sensor also includes a temperature sensor in contact with the sensing element and a signal processing module coupled to the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor communicates signals indicative of a temperature increase of the sensing element to the processing module, thereby indicating an adsorption and, therefore, a presence of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the calorific value of a gas. The apparatus includes a chamber to which a gas in question, for example natural gas, is supplied through an inlet and leaves through an outlet. The speed of sound SoS at ambient temperature is measured using any suitable method such as electronic control and a calculating device and an ultra-sound emitter and an ultra-sound receiver. The ambient temperatures Ta, is observed by a temperature sensor, and a thermal conductivity sensor measures the thermal conductivity of the gas at two different temperatures above the ambient temperature. One value ThCH, of the thermal conductivity is measured at 70° C. above ambient and the other value ThCL of the thermal conductivity is measured at 50° C. above ambient. The control calculates the calorific value CV of the gas according to the formula: CV=a·ThCH+b·ThCL+C·SoS+d·Ta+e·Ta2 +f, where a, b, c, d, e and f are constants.

Abstract: A temperature sensor, in particular for a gas sensor, has at least one printed conductor, where a temperature-dependent change in a resistance of the printed conductor is detected and analyzed. The printed conductor has at least one section made of a solid electrolyte.

Abstract: In this method of analyzing a gas mixture containing at least one inflammable gas to determine its explosibility, a resistive heating element (15) is energized in an analysis enclosure (12) communicating with the gas mixture to be analysed to burn the gas mixture in the enclosure, an electrical signal (S) at the terminals of the resistive element (15) is measured during combustion, and the explosibility of the gas mixture is determined from a comparison of values of the signal measured during a transient phase in which the concentration of the inflammable gas in the gas mixture is falling. The measurements taken during the transient phase are taken at times chosen to obtain, for different inflammable gases, substantially identical measurement signals for concentrations corresponding to identical explosibilities.

Abstract: The invention is a method for determining the Joule-Thomson coefficient of a fluid, expressing the temperature variation in relation to a pressure variation thereof. The fluid is injected at a determined injection temperature into a thin tube (8) (preferably a capillary tube in order to obtain a high pressure drop with reasonable flow rates) which contains a temperature detector (TC1) leading to a pressure drop for the fluid. The temperature variation of the fluid in relation to the injection temperature is measured by means of this temperature detector. The pressure drop undergone by the fluid in tube (8), due to the presence of this temperature detector, is also measured and the Joule-Thomson coefficient is calculated by combination of measurements of the pressure drop and of the temperature variation of the fluid. The method can be applied notably in the field of hydrocarbon production, more particularly hydrocarbons coming from high-pressure and high-temperature reservoirs and in gas lines.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are proposed for determining and/or monitoring the quantity and quality of a fluid in which a lowering of the boiling temperature is symptomatic of a deterioration in quality. For this, the filling level and the condition of the fluid—in particular a hygroscopic fluid—are determined successively one after the other by a single sensor of a measuring instrument.

Abstract: There are provided with a gas detecting sensor and a gas detecting device for controlling a ventilation system of a vehicle using the gas detecting sensor. The gas detecting sensor of the present invention includes two kinds of gas sensing layers separately formed and a heater assembly for heating the two sensing layers to different temperatures.

Abstract: A gas sensor array for detecting individual gas constituents in a gas sensor, said array being composed of a carrier member of a non-conductive substrate having a plurality of individual sensor elements formed by semiconductor oxides being applied thereon in a planar arrangement and the array is provided with contact electrode arrangements for measuring electrical conductivity, with a heating arrangement for heating a predetermined operating temperature and with protective sheaths for protecting the arrangement against external influences along with a fastening base so that the individual operating temperatures allocated to the various sensors and wherein the differences between respective sensor signals are formed for detecting the individual gas constituents, with these differences being supplied to a processing unit. In a preferred embodiment, at least one part of the individual sensor element is composed of a &bgr;-Ga2O3 thin film.

Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit of a gas sensor, comprising a substrate (1) in the form of a ring-shaped peripheral portion (2) and a disk-shaped central portion (3), both being interconnected through three jumpers (4) spaced 120° apart and having three branchings (10) arranged at 120° at the peripheral portion (2). The central portion (3) carries a gas-sensitive film (7), a film heater (6), and a film electrode (8) of the circuit for measuring the resistance of the gas-sensitive film (7). The heater (6) and the electrode (8) are electrically connected along the jumpers (4) to bonding pads (5) located in the peripheral portion (2). The thickness of the jumpers (4) and of the central portion (3) is 0.15-0.25 mm, and the width of the jumpers (4) is 0.05-0.15 mm.

Abstract: An explosion-proof gas sensor (1) with a flashback barrier (2) permeable to the gas to be measured between the measuring space (4) and the environment in an otherwise gas-impermeable housing (3) is described. The sensor provides reduced response time and higher signal sensitivity for the gas to be measured. A flashback barrier (2) is provided including a plurality of flexurally rigid fabric layers made preferably of metal, which are permeable to the gas to be measured, with an overall thickness of one to ten mm, an overall porosity of at least twenty percent by volume relative to the volume of the flashback barrier (2), and with a maximum number of one percent of all pores with a pore size larger than 240 &mgr;m.